Legal Aid at Work

08/17/2026

Legal Aid at Work was proud to attend the annual American Disabilities Act Conference hosted by The Independent Living Center of Kern County. This is the only ADA conference in the entire state and is very well attended by organizations statewide. We had a table with resources and our Community Legal Services attorney, Laura Alvarenga hosted a training called “Disability Rights in the Workplace.”

08/11/2026

Climate change is making each summer more dangerous and brutal than the last – that’s why it’s important to know your rights when it comes to heat safety at work.

Everyone, regardless of immigration status, has rights at work to prevent heat illness! It doesn’t matter whether you work inside or outdoors, you are protected.

Save and share this crucial information.

El cambio climático hace que cada verano sea más peligroso y extremo que el anterior; por eso es importante conocer tus derechos en materia de seguridad frente al calor en el trabajo.

¡Todas las personas, independientemente de su estatus migratorio, tienen derechos laborales para prevenir enfermedades relacionadas con el calor! No importa si trabajas en interiores o al aire libre: estás protegido.

Guarda y comparte esta información fundamental.

08/06/2026

When Mr. Winston’s ability to work was suddenly threatened, everything his family depended on was at risk. As he fought to keep his job, he and his wife were preparing for the birth of their child, all while facing the possibility of losing their only source of income and health insurance.

At Legal Aid at Work, we believe workers shouldn’t have to navigate moments like these alone.

Watch Mr. Winston share his story and hear how legal support helped him protect his job, his livelihood, and his family’s future.

08/05/2026

🔥 ¡Protégete del calor extremo!

Toma agua con frecuencia, descansa en lugares frescos o con sombra y reconoce los síntomas de una enfermedad por calor.

Recuerda: tu empleador debe proporcionar agua, descansos y capacitación. Estos derechos aplican sin importar tu estatus migratorio.

08/04/2026

We have positive news to share! Legal Aid at Work has reached a settlement on behalf of Lauren Gaw, a registered nurse who alleged in a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California in June 2025, that her employer unlawfully terminated her after she brought personal water bottles to work displaying stickers expressing support for Palestine.

Under California law, employers cannot threaten workers with job loss to control their political activities or silence their political views. Employees have the right to participate in political activity without interference or fear of retaliation from their employer.

No one should have to choose between their job and protected free speech. When employers can punish one employee for peaceful political expression, it sends a message to everyone. And it’s usually the workers with the least power and fewest protections who suffer most.

07/10/2026

Preparing for life after incarceration means preparing for work, stability, and new opportunities.

Recently, members of our Racial Economic Justice team visited Corcoran State Prison to speak with people preparing for their release. Together, they discussed fair chance hiring, record clearance, interviewing, and the resources available to help people successfully reenter their communities.

💙 Answering questions about California's Fair Chance Act.
💙 Sharing information about record clearance and employment.
💙 Connecting people with organizations that support successful reentry.

Everyone deserves the opportunity to rebuild their life through meaningful work. We're grateful to everyone who took the time to meet with our team, and we'll continue working toward a future where every worker has a fair chance.

Learn more about our work and free resources: https://legalaidatwork.org/our-programs/racial-justice/

07/09/2026

Over the past year, we have witnessed immigration enforcement actions become more aggressive and unchecked, as authorities target immigrant communities in their homes, in hospitals, on their way to school, and, of course, at work.

Bad faith employers are exploiting this fear, and weaponizing immigration status, not in response to any anticipated or actual complaint, but preemptively to silence workers before they can raise an issue, or even fully discover their workplace rights.

AB 2495 would strengthen existing protections for immigrant workers by targeting employer conduct that deters workers from accessing the workplace protections they are entitled to by law. We proudly support AB2495 because rights are meaningless if workers are too afraid to use them.

07/08/2026

07/06/2026

The 2026 FIFA World Cup brings millions of fans to North America, but behind every match are thousands of workers making the tournament possible.

Our latest blog explores some of the workplace issues surrounding one of the world's biggest sporting events, including:

⚽ The increased risks temporary and immigrant workers can face during major international events.
⚽ How workers and unions are organizing to protect workplace rights and support one another.
⚽ Resources to help workers, fans, and communities understand their rights and recognize labor exploitation.

The World Cup should be a celebration of the game, and of the workers whose labor makes it all possible.

Read our latest blog to learn more, and share it with your community: https://legalaidatwork.org/2026-fifa-world-cup-immigrant-workers-arent-playing-from-the-sidelines/

06/23/2026

Several years ago, farmworkers began speaking up about missing wages. Together with California Rural Legal Assistance, we helped pursue a case that ultimately uncovered labor violations affecting more than 600 workers. Many of those workers were undocumented, Spanish-speaking, or Indigenous workers who faced significant barriers to asserting their rights.

What started with workers noticing missing boxes on their pay records became a fight for accountability that helped drive broader change across the agricultural industry. Years later, advocates report seeing far fewer box theft cases than when the case was first filed.

As we celebrate 110 years of worker justice, we're reflecting on the victories that have shaped our work, and the workers who made them possible.

We're grateful to the workers whose courage helped create lasting change—not just for themselves, but for countless others. Watch the full video to hear their story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYD9fwHSfL0